Arthurian Legends - Literature and Medieval Romance

King Arthur - a legend, a myth, an entire system of faith that
will not die. Stories of King Arthur, Merlin, the Knights
of the Round Table, Lancelot and Guinevere - we've grown up
with them. Arthurian legends have contributed immeasurably
to our spiritual growth and cultural identity.

This page provides the stories of King Arthur, his knights, and
related works of medieval romance.

Late
15th century - the classic collection of King Arthur
tales. Malory created our notions of chivalry; it is
these stories that live on to the present in popular
Arthurian legends. When reading the middle English,
try reading out loud at first, to catch the cadence
and rhythm of the speech. This edition is highly praised
for its beautiful illustrations. Complete and unabridged,
new illustrated edition.

12th
century - De Troyes was the master of the French romances
based on Arthurian legends, including the poem of Lancelot
and the story of Perceval and the Holy Grail. Translated
from old French into modern English.

Written
in the early 13th century, Parzival is the most
famous book in medieval German literature. Parzival's
quest for the Holy Grail leads to amazing and bizarre
adventures - an amalgam of medieval knightly mores and
lifestyle combined with fantastical creatures and splendid
battles. It is from Parzival we get the story
of the Fisher King. A classic.

The
Romance of Tristan and the Tale of Tristan's Madness
by Beroul, translated by Alan S. Fredrick

French,
late 12th century - earliest French version of the classic
tragedy of forbidden love between Tristan and Iseult
(Yseult, Isolde) centering around King Mark's court
with appearances by Arthurian knights. This is romance
- it doesn't get any better.

German,
early 13th century - The tragic love of Tristan and
Isolde is beautifully told in this version of the story,
with its emphasis on courtly virtues and an undying
love potion, binding them together forever. This story
is the one on which Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde
is based.

Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight
modern translation by J.R.R. Tolkien

English,
14th century - The original author of this classic poem
is lost in the mists of time, but Tolkien does a great
job of translating Gawain's tale into modern English,
while keeping the cadence and alliteration of the original.
Includes two other medieval poems - Pearl and Sir Orfeo.

English
- 19th century. Tennyson's epic poem breaths life into
the Arthurian legend, transforming the old stories into
a cohesive vision of destiny and character. Victorian
in outlook, Guinevere fares badly in this rendition,
bearing the responsibility for adultery and sin.

The
Romance of Arthur : An Anthology of Medieval Texts in
Translation
edited by James J. Wilhelm

Modern
translations of Arthurian legends spanning almost 1,000
years - from the ancient Welsh Mabinogion to Malory's
Morte d'Arthur. A great resource for tracing the evolution
of the King Arthur myth through time.

Find the best fantasy book series and fantasy authors with their bibliographies and story summaries, interesting and informative medieval history books and ancient celtic history books and music, Robin Hood, Arthurian and other medieval legends and myths, renaissance and medieval music, fantasy and medieval historical fiction and nonfiction, intriguing gothic and fantasy art calendars, fantasy movie calendars, scenic Ireland, Scotland, and England calendars, historical movies and documentaries, favorite fantasy movies, even more.